Hello, Everybody!
posted by PorJ
Hello, Everybody: it's Dr. Nick! Actually, I'm the guest blogger to-be-named later. I frequent the comment boards here - you know me as PorJ - and I was chosen primarily because I do not have my own blog (poor Dr. B had to go to the D-list to ask me). In terms of an introduction, all you really need to know is that Dr. B has called me a "cynical bastard," John Emerson thinks most of my comments are "inane," and I nearly started a U.S.-Canada border war over definitions of a "free press." In short: I love this place!
Seriously: this is one of the great blogs, and its not just because of Dr. B. In fact, I often run straight to the comment boards because I dig what the Misanthrope, Trish Wilson, Orange, or Sergei or Ash have to say (I'm leaving out tons of others, but you get the drift). I'm particular fond of Erudite Redneck and Amy because they (like me) stick around to argue the finer points with Dr. B. Its a real salon (dare I say: Public Sphere ?) around here.
My first post concerns an old chestnut, but I don't think I've seen it addressed. Down the street from where I live there is a Curves. You've seen them. They're the gyms marketed to women. The slogan is: Only one place can give you the strength of over 4 million women. They've just opened a new one on the way to my work. That's two within 3.5 miles of each other. This wouldn't be so surprising - afterall, Curves is one of America's top franchise businesses right now - except that I live in a "blue state." The absolute bluest of states possible. And Curves gives 10% of its profits to such pro-life groups as Operation Save America (more radical than even Randall Terry's Operation Rescue). Turns out Gary Heavin, the founder of the chain, is a "committed Pro-Life Christian." But you wont read this in his biography at the Curves site, nor in any of their promotional materials.
I was stunned to find this out last year. Its probably well-known amongst the feminists who read this blog. But as long as I've got Dr. B's microphone, I'd like to remind everyone. And I'm sure - if they are doing so well here in blue America - that several (most?) of their patrons are unaware of the causes they are (in)directly supporting.
Seriously: this is one of the great blogs, and its not just because of Dr. B. In fact, I often run straight to the comment boards because I dig what the Misanthrope, Trish Wilson, Orange, or Sergei or Ash have to say (I'm leaving out tons of others, but you get the drift). I'm particular fond of Erudite Redneck and Amy because they (like me) stick around to argue the finer points with Dr. B. Its a real salon (dare I say: Public Sphere ?) around here.
My first post concerns an old chestnut, but I don't think I've seen it addressed. Down the street from where I live there is a Curves. You've seen them. They're the gyms marketed to women. The slogan is: Only one place can give you the strength of over 4 million women. They've just opened a new one on the way to my work. That's two within 3.5 miles of each other. This wouldn't be so surprising - afterall, Curves is one of America's top franchise businesses right now - except that I live in a "blue state." The absolute bluest of states possible. And Curves gives 10% of its profits to such pro-life groups as Operation Save America (more radical than even Randall Terry's Operation Rescue). Turns out Gary Heavin, the founder of the chain, is a "committed Pro-Life Christian." But you wont read this in his biography at the Curves site, nor in any of their promotional materials.
I was stunned to find this out last year. Its probably well-known amongst the feminists who read this blog. But as long as I've got Dr. B's microphone, I'd like to remind everyone. And I'm sure - if they are doing so well here in blue America - that several (most?) of their patrons are unaware of the causes they are (in)directly supporting.
Posted at 5:10 AM
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